Texas Health and Human Services licenses assisted living centers based on residents' physical and mental ability to evacuate the center in case of emergency. SSI (and optional state supplements) can help cover room and board costs. Many Medicaid-certified centers are not allowed to charge more than the federal SSI fee or any state supplement for room and board. State Medicaid assisted living programs may require participants to meet what is called a “level of care in a nursing home.” The following states don't offer additional supplements to anyone, not even residents of assisted living facilities.
An assisted living facility may require a staff member who has had a period of two years or more of employment in the facilities to successfully complete the training and pass the required evaluation under subsections (d), (f), or (g), even if the staff member previously completed those requirements. Fees collected under this section will be deposited into the general income fund and credited to the assisted living account. Assisted living centers provide individualized medical and personal care assistance in a home environment with an emphasis on personal dignity, autonomy, independence, and privacy. In addition, the state doesn't exactly license the facilities themselves, but instead licenses assisted living service agencies. As you'll see in the chart, many states don't do everything they can to make assisted living records accessible.
Assisted living services should improve a person's ability to age in a residential environment while receiving increasing or decreasing levels of service as the person's needs change. Of course, there are many independent skilled nursing facilities, as are independent assisted living facilities. The executive commissioner will require that each assisted living facility include in the facility's consumer information statement whether the facility has a license classified under section 247.029 for the provision of personal care services to residents with Alzheimer's disease or related disorders. This is to clearly differentiate an assisted living facility from an institution that must be licensed under Chapter 242; meaning it is very common for people in assisted living communities to be in the early stages of dementia. In a county with a population of 3.3 million or more, the executive commissioner will generally prohibit the construction of a new assisted living facility authorized under this chapter within a 100-year floodplain. The assisted living centers fact sheet explains the variety of assisted living centers available in Texas, who they care for and the services they provide.
An assisted living facility that receives a copy of a court order appointing a resident's guardian or of a resident's estate must keep a copy of the court order in the resident's medical history. Assisted living facilities in Central Texas take special security measures to ensure their residents' safety and well-being. These measures include requiring staff members who have been employed for two years or more to complete training and pass an evaluation, prohibiting construction of new facilities within 100-year floodplains, and keeping copies of court orders appointing guardians or estates in residents' medical histories. These precautions are designed to guarantee that residents receive quality care and are safeguarded from potential harm. Assisted living centers also provide individualized medical and personal care assistance with an emphasis on personal dignity, autonomy, independence, and privacy. It is essential for individuals considering an assisted living facility to research their options thoroughly before making a decision. They should also be aware of any additional fees that may be charged beyond what is covered by SSI or state supplements.
